Chapter 13 - The Last Patient
Richard ran.
Daniel caught him before he reached the exit.
Marcus didn't care about Richard anymore.
He cared about Anna.
The hidden server revealed another facility.
Patient 001.
No name.
Marcus opened the photograph.
Samuel Ward.
Alive.
Patient 002.
Anna Ward.
Alive.
Marcus stared at the address.
They drove through the night.
Police were now involved.
Federal investigators had received copies of the Lazarus files automatically through a dead-man switch created by Marcus's father.
For the first time, the Circle couldn't erase everything.
The facility was discovered beneath a private rehabilitation hospital.
Marcus entered with federal agents.
Room 214.
Samuel Ward lay inside.
Old.
Thin.
But alive.
Eli rushed toward him.
“Grandpa!”
Samuel opened his eyes.
He smiled.
“You found him.”
Eli cried.
Marcus approached.
Samuel looked at Marcus's legs.
“You stood.”
Marcus nodded.
“Because of Eli.”
Samuel smiled.
“I taught him where to press.”
Marcus frowned.
“That pressure point didn't heal me.”
“No.”
“It reminded your nervous system of a movement pattern we'd trained before the accident.”
Marcus stared.
“Before?”
Samuel nodded.
“You were part of Lazarus.”
Marcus froze.
“Voluntarily.”
“You discovered Richard's trials.”
“You let us test the legitimate therapy on you so you could understand the science.”
“That is why your body recovered differently.”
Marcus finally understood why Eli knew exactly what to do.
Samuel had known Marcus's neurological responses better than Voss.
“Where is Anna?”
Samuel's smile disappeared.
“Room 216.”
Marcus moved faster than he had moved in eleven years.
He reached the door.
Opened it.
Anna sat beside the window.
Older.
Fragile.
But unmistakable.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
Marcus couldn't speak.
Anna stood.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You remembered.”
Marcus whispered.
“Not enough.”
She crossed the room.
Then stopped inches from him.
Marcus looked toward Eli.
Anna saw him.
Her composure shattered.
“My baby.”
Eli ran to her.
Marcus watched mother and son hold each other.
For the first time since standing, Marcus felt something other than rage.
Then Anna looked at him.
“There is something you still don't know.”
Marcus almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
Anna took his hand.
“The accident wasn't meant to kill you.”
Marcus frowned.
“What?”
“It was meant to kill me.”
Marcus stared.
May you like
Anna's eyes filled with tears.
“I was in the car with you.”
